COLMA — In a surprise move, Colma Town Councilman Larry Formalejo has resigned from the council, citing health concerns, according to town officials.

The formal announcement in a Thursday afternoon news release came less than 24 hours after the council learned the results of an investigation into several alleged ethical breaches by the former mayor.

When the allegations of unspecified “inappropriate behavior” first surfaced in February, Formalejo stepped down from the mayor’s post but remained on the council.

Formalejo could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Mayor Helen Fisicaro said Thursday night that Formalejo’s sudden resignation was submitted in writing to City Manager Diane McGrath after Wednesday night’s council meeting. Fisicaro said it was a complete surprise.

“We didn’t even know about the letter until we were ready to leave,” Fisicaro said, “and the city manager came out of her office. He was nowhere — he had already left the building. It was a surprise to all of us.”

An independent investigation into Formalejo’s actions found that he had violated ethical standards. But his colleagues decided at the meeting Wednesday night not to take further action.

“I feel that Council Member Formalejo has been through enough,” Councilwoman Fro Vallerga said Wednesday. “I personally have no desire to make this official in a resolution.”

The council had hired attorney Linda Tripoli to conduct the investigation.

Among other things, it revealed that Formalejo had contacted then-Colma police Sgt. Colm Quinn in 2006 after Quinn arrested Formalejo’s son on an outstanding bench warrant. Formalejo allegedly asked Quinn to make the charges “go away.”

Tripoli also looked into whether Formalejo used his town-issued credit card to pay the bail bondsman for his son’s bail. Instead, Formalejo allegedly was able to borrow an unspecified amount from then-Councilman Philip Lum to post bail for his son.

According to the report, Tripoli was unable to prove that because she couldn’t speak to Lum. He is currently in federal prison in the Central Valleycity of Taft.

Last year, Lum was charged with accepting free airfare to the Philippines from Lucky Chances Casino owner Rene Medina, and failing to disclose the gifts on an income form.

Tripoli did find that Formalejo asked a second time for special treatment for a family member. Early this year, he called Colma police Cmdr. Greg Hart about his niece, who had received a speeding ticket from the South San Francisco Police Department. Formalejo asked Hart, who used to work for the South City department, if the fine could be reduced.

“This act by Formalejo would be very improper and unethical standing alone,” Tripoli wrote. “When viewed in light of Formalejo’s history as a council member, there is no excuse nor any mitigating factors. Less than two years later, Council Member Formalejo is engaged in virtually the same misconduct for his niece.”

At Wednesday’s meeting, council members agreed that his activities do not warrant referring the matter to the state Fair Political Practices Commission or censure.

After the council’s decision, Formalejo — who recused himself during the discussion — maintained he had done nothing wrong. Instead, he called the past events a miscommunication and said that the report is one-sided.

The council now has 30 days to decide whether to appoint someone to fill out the rest of Formalejo’s term, which ends following the November election, or hold a special election for the seat. A third option is to leave the seat vacant until the November contest.

Fisicaro said the council will consider various options when they get a report from the city manager at the next meeting on March 27.

Summing up the events of Wednesday night, Fisicaro said it had been a difficult episode.

“I’ve been on the council a long time, and all of us do take pride in what we do for our community. It was hard on all of us, too, to have to go through this.”

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